#RampUpBC
News! 1/26/16 BC Gavel article by Kate Rogers: "Petition Calls for BC's Compliance with set by ADA/504." http://bcgavel.com/2016/01/26/petition-calls-for-bcs-compliance-with-standards-set-by-ada-504/
* New: PETITION: Demand ADA (and Section 504) Compliance at Boston College. Please sign, share and comment on our petition. Thank you! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/770/652/882/demand-compliance-with-the-americans-with-disabilities-act-at-boston-college/?taf_id=20688555&cid=fb_na
Open Letter to BC regarding ADA compliance petition.
Dear President Fr. William Leahy:
We read on your website that you (or an anonymous BC representative) responded about our petition. Surprisingly, you did not respond to us, nor provide any factual information to support your statement that our petition is less than accurate.
We understand that BC's attention to not meeting ADA/504 standards may present an embarrassment to the image that BC adheres to Jesuit principals of inclusion and caring. We would like for our school to become a model for inclusion. We are concerned that you have not opened up communication. Why did you not respond to us at DAC-BC with discussion, but rather posted a statement to dismiss our statements, remove the Gavel article, sought to remove the petition online that garnered 21,642+ signatures, and otherwise trying to silence us with statements that BC complies with all state and federal mandates?
1. You state that you requested and were given an AAB variance to allow you to not build a wheelchair accessible ramp for students with disabilities near the new steps at Carney. Facts show that the information provided to the AAB in the variance of April 2015 provided apparently false statements. Your variance was stated as a "Science Center walkway." We have requested for a ramp and access. We are also appealing the AAB variance, because we believe that BC should be building ramps and access for inclusion of everyone, not segregating.
2. You stated that you did not remove wheelchair ramps or access on campus. False. Facts show that BC did in fact remove wheelchair ramps and access across campus, and continues to do so, and build outside of the ADA and 521CMR building codes. The removal of wheelchair ramps from the quad means that wheelchair users have to travel the furthest distance around the periphery of the campus to gain the same access. The stairs at the Amphitheater do not have a ramp to get to College Road. The evidence of non-compliance is overwhelming.
3. You stated as fact that BC never retaliated against a student or students based on their speaking out about ADA/504 non-compliance on campus. Facts show the contrary is true. BC is under investigation it appears since 2014 or earlier. The US Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights has jurisdiction over 504 and retaliation complaints. The acts of retaliation against a student or employee for exercising their rights under Section 504 is unlawful. The petition was signed by one or more students who wrote that they were retaliated against and degrees removed out of retaliation for speaking up about access. People around the world support our petition because they can see it is accurate and disability rights important. We have 11 DAC-BC videos posted on youTube to show the barriers so that you may address these for inclusion and access for everyone (DAC-BC Video#1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH3lb7d-4kc)
4. You state that BC has a committee for access. Where is this committee and where are the minutes of meetings? We are not aware of any undergraduate or graduate committee on campus that meets with faculty, and disability services with the purpose of addressing ADA/504 noncompliance on campus. We have requested for a student with a disability representative to be appointed to a committee on campus that involves faculty, staff, and disability services. To state that a student can contact Disability Services, is true because this is required by law. However, this is not the same as a student being involved in decision making capacity and review of ADA access plans for the 3 campuses. We have not seen any faculty or employees who use wheelchairs at BC. BC needs to increase hiring faculty, staff, and employees with disabilities. Can you provide us with the ADA/504 plans you have for BC?
5. You state that you have licensed architects. Mark Lewis falsified he was a Project Architect, and was prosecuted by the state (#AR-15-001 attachment).
6. You state David Trainor is the mandated ADA/504 Compliance officer. If so, then we would expect for Mr. Trainor's name to be listed on the Disability Services website. When will his name be added along with his duties for compliance for the 3 campuses? What is Mr Trainor's ADA training and credentials? In what capacity has Mr. Trainor worked to address each and every one of the ADA/504 compliance issues we presented on campus? To date, we have not seen any evidence to support that he has worked in this capacity to address the ADA/504 issues. We hope that this a start.
7. You state that you have provided access and improvements across campus. Facts show this to less than accurate. All new construction requires for access under the 521CMR building code. It is not simply a charitable thing to do, but rather, is a mandate So the question is how it is possible to remove a wheelchair lift at O'Neill Atrium and not replace it? Or to build stairs without a ramp, and tell students to find a building to go to, which may be locked or inaccessible?
BC has a federal obligation under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act and 504 Rehabilitation Act to make the campus accessible for and usable by all persons with disabilities.
8. We appreciate that you wrote that BC is committed to providing access to all students and visitors to BC across the campus. This is exciting news. However, you write that you are already providing this and providing communication. This is factually untrue, seen by the fact that you did not even respond to our petition to our attention, or call for a meeting prior to writing a response.
9. We would like for you to live up to your promise for access. Please provide us with a date for a meeting that will involve a new access committee on campus where students are appointed representatives for disabilities. Join us for a wheelchair tour around campus. We believe that sitting in a wheelchair and traversing the campus that you call accessible, will lead to an understanding of why the access codes are there for safety and access.
Our petition was accurate. Please remove your false and misleading statements. The BC Disability Services infrastructure and services needs to be restructured. Dean Paulette Durrett states she is not responsible for campus access. The ADA/504 Coordinator needs to be trained on the mandates and spirit of the ADA/504. We request for BC to comply with trainings and an ADA Self-assessment.
Please provide an update with an action plan- including an ADA/504 access survey for the Chestnut Hill, Brighton and Newton campuses- made public.
This can be an exciting time for change at BC to open up discussion and access across the campus. This is also about supporting students who are blind or low vision, students who may be hard of hearing or deaf, students who may have invisible disabilities, faculty and Alumni, families and visitors would all benefit from universal design. This is about students at Boston College Campus School being provided Braille on signs, ramps that are safe and accessible, full access to the campus to enjoy all programs that BC has to offer. This is about inclusion, principal and opening up discussions.
We look forward to hearing from you on your ADA/504 plans to remove the new barriers created, build ramps, resolve retaliation, and look forward to you sponsoring our event to wheel around campus on a tour. Disability rights are human rights. Thank you.
Most Respectfully Yours,
DAC-BC
Disability Awareness Committee of Boston College
https://www.facebook.com/BC.disabilityawareness/
bc-dac-g.weebly.com
[email protected]
#RampUpBC
Twitter: @dac_bc
"No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . . ." Section 504 http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html
* Like us on Facebook: Disability Awareness Committee of Boston College: https://www.facebook.com/BC.disabilityawareness
Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts USA 02467
President Father William Leahy, SJ
BC, Jesuit University
News! 1/26/16 BC Gavel article by Kate Rogers: "Petition Calls for BC's Compliance with set by ADA/504." http://bcgavel.com/2016/01/26/petition-calls-for-bcs-compliance-with-standards-set-by-ada-504/
* New: PETITION: Demand ADA (and Section 504) Compliance at Boston College. Please sign, share and comment on our petition. Thank you! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/770/652/882/demand-compliance-with-the-americans-with-disabilities-act-at-boston-college/?taf_id=20688555&cid=fb_na
Open Letter to BC regarding ADA compliance petition.
Dear President Fr. William Leahy:
We read on your website that you (or an anonymous BC representative) responded about our petition. Surprisingly, you did not respond to us, nor provide any factual information to support your statement that our petition is less than accurate.
We understand that BC's attention to not meeting ADA/504 standards may present an embarrassment to the image that BC adheres to Jesuit principals of inclusion and caring. We would like for our school to become a model for inclusion. We are concerned that you have not opened up communication. Why did you not respond to us at DAC-BC with discussion, but rather posted a statement to dismiss our statements, remove the Gavel article, sought to remove the petition online that garnered 21,642+ signatures, and otherwise trying to silence us with statements that BC complies with all state and federal mandates?
1. You state that you requested and were given an AAB variance to allow you to not build a wheelchair accessible ramp for students with disabilities near the new steps at Carney. Facts show that the information provided to the AAB in the variance of April 2015 provided apparently false statements. Your variance was stated as a "Science Center walkway." We have requested for a ramp and access. We are also appealing the AAB variance, because we believe that BC should be building ramps and access for inclusion of everyone, not segregating.
2. You stated that you did not remove wheelchair ramps or access on campus. False. Facts show that BC did in fact remove wheelchair ramps and access across campus, and continues to do so, and build outside of the ADA and 521CMR building codes. The removal of wheelchair ramps from the quad means that wheelchair users have to travel the furthest distance around the periphery of the campus to gain the same access. The stairs at the Amphitheater do not have a ramp to get to College Road. The evidence of non-compliance is overwhelming.
3. You stated as fact that BC never retaliated against a student or students based on their speaking out about ADA/504 non-compliance on campus. Facts show the contrary is true. BC is under investigation it appears since 2014 or earlier. The US Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights has jurisdiction over 504 and retaliation complaints. The acts of retaliation against a student or employee for exercising their rights under Section 504 is unlawful. The petition was signed by one or more students who wrote that they were retaliated against and degrees removed out of retaliation for speaking up about access. People around the world support our petition because they can see it is accurate and disability rights important. We have 11 DAC-BC videos posted on youTube to show the barriers so that you may address these for inclusion and access for everyone (DAC-BC Video#1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH3lb7d-4kc)
4. You state that BC has a committee for access. Where is this committee and where are the minutes of meetings? We are not aware of any undergraduate or graduate committee on campus that meets with faculty, and disability services with the purpose of addressing ADA/504 noncompliance on campus. We have requested for a student with a disability representative to be appointed to a committee on campus that involves faculty, staff, and disability services. To state that a student can contact Disability Services, is true because this is required by law. However, this is not the same as a student being involved in decision making capacity and review of ADA access plans for the 3 campuses. We have not seen any faculty or employees who use wheelchairs at BC. BC needs to increase hiring faculty, staff, and employees with disabilities. Can you provide us with the ADA/504 plans you have for BC?
5. You state that you have licensed architects. Mark Lewis falsified he was a Project Architect, and was prosecuted by the state (#AR-15-001 attachment).
6. You state David Trainor is the mandated ADA/504 Compliance officer. If so, then we would expect for Mr. Trainor's name to be listed on the Disability Services website. When will his name be added along with his duties for compliance for the 3 campuses? What is Mr Trainor's ADA training and credentials? In what capacity has Mr. Trainor worked to address each and every one of the ADA/504 compliance issues we presented on campus? To date, we have not seen any evidence to support that he has worked in this capacity to address the ADA/504 issues. We hope that this a start.
7. You state that you have provided access and improvements across campus. Facts show this to less than accurate. All new construction requires for access under the 521CMR building code. It is not simply a charitable thing to do, but rather, is a mandate So the question is how it is possible to remove a wheelchair lift at O'Neill Atrium and not replace it? Or to build stairs without a ramp, and tell students to find a building to go to, which may be locked or inaccessible?
BC has a federal obligation under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act and 504 Rehabilitation Act to make the campus accessible for and usable by all persons with disabilities.
8. We appreciate that you wrote that BC is committed to providing access to all students and visitors to BC across the campus. This is exciting news. However, you write that you are already providing this and providing communication. This is factually untrue, seen by the fact that you did not even respond to our petition to our attention, or call for a meeting prior to writing a response.
9. We would like for you to live up to your promise for access. Please provide us with a date for a meeting that will involve a new access committee on campus where students are appointed representatives for disabilities. Join us for a wheelchair tour around campus. We believe that sitting in a wheelchair and traversing the campus that you call accessible, will lead to an understanding of why the access codes are there for safety and access.
Our petition was accurate. Please remove your false and misleading statements. The BC Disability Services infrastructure and services needs to be restructured. Dean Paulette Durrett states she is not responsible for campus access. The ADA/504 Coordinator needs to be trained on the mandates and spirit of the ADA/504. We request for BC to comply with trainings and an ADA Self-assessment.
Please provide an update with an action plan- including an ADA/504 access survey for the Chestnut Hill, Brighton and Newton campuses- made public.
This can be an exciting time for change at BC to open up discussion and access across the campus. This is also about supporting students who are blind or low vision, students who may be hard of hearing or deaf, students who may have invisible disabilities, faculty and Alumni, families and visitors would all benefit from universal design. This is about students at Boston College Campus School being provided Braille on signs, ramps that are safe and accessible, full access to the campus to enjoy all programs that BC has to offer. This is about inclusion, principal and opening up discussions.
We look forward to hearing from you on your ADA/504 plans to remove the new barriers created, build ramps, resolve retaliation, and look forward to you sponsoring our event to wheel around campus on a tour. Disability rights are human rights. Thank you.
Most Respectfully Yours,
DAC-BC
Disability Awareness Committee of Boston College
https://www.facebook.com/BC.disabilityawareness/
bc-dac-g.weebly.com
[email protected]
#RampUpBC
Twitter: @dac_bc
"No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . . ." Section 504 http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html
* Like us on Facebook: Disability Awareness Committee of Boston College: https://www.facebook.com/BC.disabilityawareness
Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts USA 02467
President Father William Leahy, SJ
BC, Jesuit University
"Promoting Social Justice and Equity for All Students with Disabilities at BC." The Disability Awareness Committee's (DAC-BC's ) mission is to promote disability rights and advocate for the removal of architectural barriers and attitudinal barriers on campus and in the larger community through events such as "Day in a Wheelchair", access surveys, speakers, and the arts.
"...No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States…shall, solely on the basis of disability, be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by any institution receiving federal financial assistance." 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973
"...No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States…shall, solely on the basis of disability, be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by any institution receiving federal financial assistance." 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Heights article: 2/13/14: "BC should improve handicap (disability) access on campus: http://www.bcheights.com/opinions/lte-bc-should-improve-handicap-access-on-campus-1.3140167#.UwIp8tIm3GY
Contact us: [email protected] Happy 2016! New! Check out our "11 DAC-BC Videos" on "YouTube" showing newly constructed access barriers! DAC-BC Video#1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH3lb7d-4kcDAC-BC Slide show 2015 DAC-BC Video# 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pseXPTCLP1k Newly exterior stairs, no ramp DAC-BC Video#3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_llg0nQgTw BC Dustbowl/Quad barriers DAC-BC Video#4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orJeFDrd0ko Stokes DAC-BC Video#5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucSxzmFLtDs Stokes DAC-BC Video#6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IOCBIRz5O4 Carney Hall DAC-BC Video#7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkla3CIjuNA Bapst/Burn Library incidents DAC-BC Video#8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CecE6CFJ1qg Snow DAC-BC Video#9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ7_cBXI8EI Cushing/Health Services building DAC-BC Video#10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUlhB2iV00Y O'Neill Atrium DAC-BC Video#11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlUayjV5Bc4 BC Lower Campus barriers |
"ADAAG and UFAS specify that the maximum grade of an accessible route on a building site be no more than 8.33 percent with a maximum rise of 0.760 m (30 in). Grades greater than 5 percent require handrails and level landings at least 1.525 m (60 in) wide. " BC's wheelchair negotiable paths do not meet these requirements. There are no compliant accessible routes near academic buildings, O'Neill library, Cushing, Higgins, Campion, etc because the grade measures slopes of near 13%, etc. It is not wheelchair negotiable.
2/18/15 Boston Globe Article: "Boston College Faces Criticism and Investigations Over Accessibility on Campus": https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/02/18/boston-college-faces-criticism-investigations-over-accessibility-campus/AJyW1ZUYHVQSjqtCJcVmIL/story.html
3/27/14 "Students See Need for Expanded Disability Access at BC"- Heights. http://www.bcheights.com/news/students-see-need-for-expanded-disability-access-at-bc-1.3154201#.UzQ7kxa3lhM
BC accessibility map:
http://www.bc.edu/a-z/maps/s-chestnuthill.html
Federal Guidelines:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/sidewalks/chap4a.cfm
2/18/15 Boston Globe Article: "Boston College Faces Criticism and Investigations Over Accessibility on Campus": https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/02/18/boston-college-faces-criticism-investigations-over-accessibility-campus/AJyW1ZUYHVQSjqtCJcVmIL/story.html
3/27/14 "Students See Need for Expanded Disability Access at BC"- Heights. http://www.bcheights.com/news/students-see-need-for-expanded-disability-access-at-bc-1.3154201#.UzQ7kxa3lhM
BC accessibility map:
http://www.bc.edu/a-z/maps/s-chestnuthill.html
Federal Guidelines:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/sidewalks/chap4a.cfm
Below is 12 min video of what BC calls the wheelchair accessible route in order to get from car on 5th floor garage to middle campus every day. A person walking up the stairs did so in a few minutes. Video tour is done on an electric scooter. A tour by manual wheelchair would be much longer (probably 3-4X longer) because the slopes of the ramp are excessive. It is an impossible route in the winter due to snow, ice, and uncleared curbcuts and parking lot.
A car makes it's own wheelchair ramp down a flight of stairs at the O'Neill Plaza(2/28/14).
Note that there is a whole row of stairs and obstructions that prohibit a wheelchair user from gaining access to Gasson Hall, or directly traveling to Bapst Library, or the circle.
Wheelchair ramp on one end of walkway, and flights of stairs on the other end? Who designed this? Why put a wheelchair ramp instead of stairs if the intent is to be as inaccessible as possible to students on campus who use wheelchairs or have mobility issues? There is no access to the BC circle near Gasson. View is in front of O'Neill Plaza, newly constructed (photos 3/9/14)
VISION RESOURCES WORKSTATION at O'Neill Library, 3rd floor: Below photo sign of the designated computer station for persons with low vision or blind. There is no software or computer designated. Notice that the sign does not have Braille. Where is BC Disability Services and the ADA/504 Coordinator?
DISABILITY ETIQUETTE: Person who uses a wheelchair or scooter, instead of wheelchair bound, etc
"Door did not meet ADA compliance or was not wheelchair accessible", instead of handicap inaccessible.. " Increase mobility access or remove physical access barriers"
"Avoid outdated terms like “handicapped”, “crippled”, or “retarded.”Be aware that many people with disabilities dislike jargony, euphemistic terms like “physically challenged” and “differently abled.” Say “person who uses a wheelchair” rather than “confined to a wheelchair” or “wheelchair bound.” The wheelchair is what enables the person to get around and participate in society; it’s liberating, not confining." https://www.unitedspinal.org/disability-etiquette/
"Door did not meet ADA compliance or was not wheelchair accessible", instead of handicap inaccessible.. " Increase mobility access or remove physical access barriers"
"Avoid outdated terms like “handicapped”, “crippled”, or “retarded.”Be aware that many people with disabilities dislike jargony, euphemistic terms like “physically challenged” and “differently abled.” Say “person who uses a wheelchair” rather than “confined to a wheelchair” or “wheelchair bound.” The wheelchair is what enables the person to get around and participate in society; it’s liberating, not confining." https://www.unitedspinal.org/disability-etiquette/